Convicted sex offender arrested again in Seattle, formerly in custody on McNeil Island

SEATTLE — A registered sex offender repeatedly convicted of sexually assaulting children is back in jail, after being arrested by Seattle police in the Chinatown-International District on Thursday.

Officers arrested Richard Eugene Jackson, a 57-year-old sex offender who’s spent time in state prison and the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island. Jackson’s criminal history spans decades, and he’s now accused of possessing and distributing child sex abuse material months after being released from prior custody.

The Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) Internet Crimes Against Children Unit has been investigating Jackson since last summer, according to SPD. Detectives said they received 18 cyber-tips over a short period of time, accusing Jackson of having and sharing images of children engaging in sexual conduct.

SPD has collected evidence from Jackson’s car and apartment on King Street. Detectives have not uncovered new evidence of Jackson physically abusing children, SPD said.

Jackson waived his first appearance in King County jail Court on Friday afternoon, where a judge found probable cause to hold him. Judge Matthew York set Jackson’s bail at $750,000 and ordered the defendant to have no contact with minors or access to internet devices. King County prosecutors argued Jackson’s extensive, violent background makes him an ongoing threat to society.

“His record demonstrates he is not capable or unwilling to conform to the law, and the state does believe that if released, he will not follow the conditions of release,” the state argued in court.

Jackson has eight prior sex offense convictions, according to the state. These offenses include the sexual assaults of a 12-year-old boy and a 7-year-old boy, similar child sex abuse material charges, and attempts to connect with elementary-aged boys for sexual contact, according to the sex offender registry.

In a previous case, Jackson admitted to sexually abusing around 70 children, young boys and girls. Court records state Jackson was sent to the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island in 2003, a facility run by the Department of Social and Human Services to house sexually violent predators likely to reoffend if they’re not securely detained.

In 2019, Jackson was conditionally released from McNeil Island to the Secure Community Transition Facility in King County. Over the next few years, Jackson was released into less restrictive custody and then recommitted after alleged violations, according to court documents.

Then, in March of 2025, the state’s sexually violent predator (SVP) petition against Jackson was dismissed, following an SVP evaluation report of Jackson by the State’s expert, Harry Goldberg, Ph.D. Court records show Jackson was then granted unconditional release from community custody in March, which would be just months before Seattle police began investigating Jackson for these new allegations.

Jackson will remain in the King County Jail. He’s expected back in court on Feb 2.